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Documentary

Night School (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Night School (2017) movie poster

Night School is a 2017 documentary directed by Andrew Cohn, starring Melissa Lewis, Greg Henson and Shynika Jakes. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes and earned $103.1 million worldwide on a $29 million budget. Critics gave it 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Stream it on Hoopla and Kanopy, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
27%
worldwide gross
$103.1M
Echo Score
63
Night School (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Director
Andrew Cohn
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Budget
$29M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Night School About?

The premise of Night School without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Greg, Melissa, and Shynika are determined to earn their high school diplomas in Indianapolis, where dropping out is a widespread problem. They join Night School, an unconventional program designed to help adults finish what they started. Faced with unique challenges and quirky instructors, they navigate the obstacles in their lives while striving to achieve this life-changing goal and build a brighter future for themselves.

Night School Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dyslexia
  • singing in a car
  • school exam
  • learning disability
  • high school prom
  • three nipples
  • swinging a baseball bat
  • boxing ring
  • fast food employee
  • teleconferencing
  • boyfriend and girlfriend make up
  • cheating on exam
+38 more
  • boyfriend proposes to girlfriend
  • school rivalry
  • jumping between buildings
  • car crash
  • night school
  • restaurant bill
  • living beyond one's means
  • vomit
  • pubic hair
  • reference to pubic hair
  • atlanta georgia
  • reference to atlanta braves
  • year 2001
  • s.a.t.
  • time jump
  • reference to bobby flay
  • bbq
  • reference to gary coleman
  • taco
  • marriage proposal
  • champagne toast
  • explosion
  • ged
  • baseball bat used as a weapon
  • reference to roomba
  • fired from a job
  • reference to julio iglesias
  • reference to justin bieber
  • reference to justin timberlake
  • reference to t pain
  • reference to the illuminati
  • skype
  • reference to tupac shakur
  • prison fight
  • lyft driver
  • mixed martial arts
  • punched in the face
  • hexagon ring
Where to watch

Where to Watch Night School

Stream it on Hoopla and Kanopy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Night School Cast

Melissa Lewis leads the cast, with Greg Henson and Shynika Jakes. Directed by Andrew Cohn.

Ratings

Night School Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Night School 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (50).

63 /100

Night School Echo Score Breakdown

Night School offers compassionate storytelling and polished craft, yet uneven comedic execution and a familiar narrative hold it back. Critics applaud its verité editing and human-centered approach, while many viewers criticize the thin script and inconsistent humor. The film balances moments of genuine warmth and likable performances against a story some find derivative and pacing that occasionally drags. Overall impressions remain mixed, with clear merits in empathy but limited originality and comedic depth.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Night School employs a verité-style editing approach that foregrounds authenticity and emotional clarity. The direction maintains a simple clarity in its visual storytelling, supported by coherent production design. While reviews praise the polished editing rhythm, some note that visual style remains largely straightforward and unadorned, offering solid technical competence.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When focusing on character and emotion, Night School benefits from its charismatic protagonists whose interactions convey genuine empathy. Critics note the film’s compassionate portraits, while audiences highlight strong chemistry between leads. At the same time, some viewers and a few critics observe limited character depth and occasional reliance on superficial portrayals. Overall, performances remain engaging but not deeply layered.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Night School delivers a clear narrative that balances setbacks with uplifting moments, supported by measured pacing. Critics appreciate the coherence of its personal tales, yet some argue the material feels familiar and that key subtleties are overlooked. Many viewers find the script underdeveloped, citing predictable beats and moments of sluggish progression. Overall, the storytelling is competent but lacks originality.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When it comes to sensory experience, Night School adopts an understated audio-visual presentation that emphasizes realism over spectacle. The ambient sound design supports the documentary-style tone, and the musical score provides unobtrusive emotional cues. While the visual palette remains naturalistic and cohesive, some viewers note that both sound and music lack memorable hooks. Overall, the sensory elements are functional but not particularly distinctive.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    When considering rewatch factor, Night School offers occasional moments of genuine warmth and humor that may resonate on repeat viewings. Several viewers commend its uplifting tone and charismatic interactions, but many report that the comedic impact diminishes after an initial viewing. Combined with a familiar narrative and uneven pacing, the film’s lasting appeal is limited. Overall, rewatch value is modest, sustaining interest primarily through performances.

Plot

Night School Plot Summary

What happens in Night School from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 2001, high school student Teddy Walker, portrayed by Kevin Hart, finds himself in a predicament when he drops out due to an inability to concentrate during a pivotal exam. Known in his youth as a school bully and an arrogant popular figure, Teddy’s life takes an unexpected turn. Fast forward to 2018, he has become a successful barbecue grill salesman and is dating Lisa, a wealthy woman played by Megalyn Echikunwoke. Although Teddy has constructed a fabric of lies regarding his finances to present a facade of success, everything changes when he learns he may inherit control of the store as its current manager prepares for retirement.

Full summary

The whole story of Night School, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Night School Box Office & Budget

Night School grossed $103.1 million worldwide on a $29 million budget, 3.6 times what it cost. $77.3 million came from the US and Canada and $25.8 million (25%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$103.1M

3.6× its budget

US & Canada
$77.3M
International
$25.8M
Budget
$29M
US & Canada 75% Rest of the world 25%
Videos

Night School Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Official Trailer
  • Clip "Christian Chicken" Commercial
  • Clip Kevin Hart Meets His New Classmates in 4K HDR
  • Clip The Break-In 4K HDR
  • Behind the Scenes Cap'n Gown Giggles Bonus Feature
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Night School?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What was Teddy Walker's occupation before going back to school?

Cars

Cars in Night School

33 cars on screen, including the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio 997 and the 2011 Ford Explorer.

All 33 cars
  • 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio 997 in Night School 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio 997 Important role
  • 2011 Ford Explorer in Night School 2011 Ford Explorer Minor role
  • 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty in Night School 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Minor role
  • 2007 Honda Fit in Night School 2007 Honda Fit Minor role
Details

Night School Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Escuela Nocturna” and “Cours du Soir”.

Also known as
  • Escuela Nocturna
  • Cours du Soir
  • Back to School
  • Escuela para fracasados
  • Вечерняя школа
  • Школа для дорослих
  • 夜校
  • Вечерно училище
  • חכם בלילה
  • A Turma da Noite
  • Вечерња школа
  • 나이트 스쿨
+15 more
  • Operação Supletivo: Agora Vai!
  • La scuola serale
  • Wieczorówka
  • Loserii de la seral
  • Vakarinė mokykla
  • Esti iskola
  • 夜間學校
  • Večerní škola
  • Vakarskola, ღამის სკოლა
  • Lớp Bổ Túc Ban Đêm
  • Večerna šola
  • Večerná škola
  • ナイトスクール
  • ก๊วนเกรียนเรียนภาคค่ำ
  • Večernja škola

Seen Night School?

FAQ

Night School FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Night School, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Night School?

Night School runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was Night School released?

Night School was released on June 9, 2017.

Who directed Night School?

Night School was directed by Andrew Cohn.

More films by Andrew Cohn

Who is in the cast of Night School?

Night School stars Melissa Lewis, Greg Henson and Shynika Jakes.

Where can I watch Night School?

In the US, Night School is streaming on Hoopla, Kanopy and Pluto TV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Night School make at the box office?

Night School grossed $103.1 million worldwide ($77.3 million domestic, $25.8 million international) on a budget of $29 million.

How is Night School rated?

Night School has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Night School have a post-credit scene?

No. Night School has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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